Before going into the meat (or tofu for the vegetarians among us) of tonight's diary, I'll briefly preview tomorrow night's plan. Even though it will be "unlucky" Friday the 13th, let's celebrate the next day - Valentine's Day - instead! So, bring your hearts, flowers, poetry (good & bad), etc. No "sap," PLEASE! Sap is not in my nature 99% of the time, and I spent more than enough Valentine's Days alone surrounded by "happy" couples to remember how that felt. So, don't do that tomorrow night, please. Of course, "dark" humor for the occasion is absolutely welcome because "dark" humor IS in my nature 99% of the time. ;D I'll attempt to set the tone with these images. Let's begin with this one...
Noting says "Be mine!" like ammo!
And, this one - quickly becoming one of my favorites..
As far as "this day in history," we've been hearing all day long about the 200th birthdays of Abraham Lincoln & Charles Darwin. I'm not discounting the extreme importance of these 2 birthdays, but let me put forth possibly some lesser - known events. The NAACP was founded on this date in 1909. George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" premiered in New York City on this date in 1924. This composition is near the top of my list of favorites; I tried to learn how to play it when I was still taking piano lessons. It was DAMN DIFFICULT! But, I still love it & get the good kind of chills whenever I hear it.
And, happy birthday to Ray Manzarek, Doors keyboardist! He is 70 today.
Let's Countdown.
#5 "Bye Bye, Bipartisanship" AKA "Quit Happens" AKA "Stimulus Check" - Judd Gregg bowed out of the Commerce Secretary position. And, apparently, he didn’t bother to let President Obama know he was exiting stage right before he released his decision. What...an...a – hole! Good bye, good riddance, & do let the door hit ya’ where the good Lord split ya’! TurdBlossom praised the obstructionist GOPers in Congress for their behavior during the stimulus debate; well, of course he did. I used to go to Peoria frequently because my big sister went to Bradley University. I haven’t been back since my sister graduated from college in 1984, so it’s been awhile. What’s Gregg’s beef with the census? Why wouldn’t EVERYONE be counted? So, all this drama today was about counting Hispanics. So much for the GOP being that "big tent" party because an African – American is their fearless leader now! And, John "Small Price to Pay" Boehner is thrilled. The global recession is now a bigger threat than AQ. DAMN! So, not only did the GOP Congress critters roll over in going after AQ in Afghanistan – THE big threat to national security – but they will also apparently roll over in doing anything meaningful about the economic mess – now a BIGGER THREAT TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY THAN AQ IS!
#4 "Smear Job" AKA "Anatomy of a Smear" AKA "Stimulus Smear" - I know this will come as a HUGE shock to you all, but right wing nutjobs are being "creative" about what’s in the stimulus bill. A "health czar" is going to overrule your doctor! Betsy McCaughey, who floated this brilliance, has ties to the pharmaceutical industry. Heaven forbid price regulation on drugs! Why, if people could actually afford drugs, why that would be just...well, perish the thought! ;D
#3 "Awaiting President Obama’s Speech" - When I was in elementary school in Illinois, going to Springfield every year was the standard end – of – the – field trip, so I went there oodles of times growing up. But, sadly, I haven’t been back in years. I’ve been to the Lincoln home and, of course, the tomb, where the nose on the bronze bust in front of it features a "unique" shine because people think it’s good luck to rub it. And, people are actually encouraged to do just that; it’s not like they’re breaking any rules or anything! I remember when Jim Thompson & Jim Edgar were governors! Jim Edgar was Secretary of State when I got my driver’s license. Gee, I wonder where Blago is?! ;D His invitation must have gotten lost in the mail. Jim Thompson was also on the 9/11 Comission. **BREAKING NEWS** Leon Panetta is now CIA director.
WPITW – The Mannity still thinks GOP talking points are actual news. Mr. Bull Snort got his Wizard of Oz witches mixed up. Bernard Goldberg is becoming a bit unhinged. And, an assassin in TN wanted to kill the people in Mr. Goldberg’s book per his suicide note.